Bingo Players Makes An Epic Return With New 'Lone Wolf' Mix You Need To Hear

The man behind the dance floor classics, Maarten Hoogstraten, is back at it again with the release of yet another infectious dance beat, "Lone Wolf."

Elite Daily had the chance to catch up with Maarten on the phone in-between gigs to chat about music, friendship and the crazy ride he's been on in the music industry.

"I've been doing this for like 20, 25 years," Maarten said of his nearly lifelong music career.

Since the age of 10, Maarten has been making music, most of which was made with his longtime partner, Paul Bäumer, who passed away in 2013 after an ongoing battle with cancer.

When asked if he still thinks of his partner while creating music, Maarten said,

Yeah all the time. Because back then we were together in the studio and I had this feedback and we had this great chemistry... I don't have that instant feedback, so it's pretty hard for me to pick it up from there and be alone in the studio making music.
Normally, I could make music and I could ask his opinion and he would say, 'Change that, let's do this, let's do something like this,' or whatever.

He added, "I always think about what he would say or what he would advise me to do with a certain idea."

Following Paul's death, Maarten said he needed to do some serious soul-searching on the future of Bingo Players, which would now be a one-man band. But in the end, Maarten said,

I took some time off to think about it. We just talked about it when he got ill and he said, 'If you want to continue Bingo Players, please do so.' We worked so hard to get where we were and I wanted to continue that. I'm glad I did.

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Times, and music, have changed a lot since Maarten got his start. And for the most part, Maarten said he's OK with where his genre is going, thanks in large part to his new capacity to create on a faster, higher level.

Twenty years ago, 25 years ago, it wasn't possible to buy synthesizers and all the expensive hardware, but once the technology evolved and it was cheaper to buy software, because you can do so much more on your computer, the whole software thing was great for me.
It opened up a whole new world.

Maarten added, "I think it really helps your creativity as well," because musicians can now do it all.

But, while technological advancements have certainly helped propel the creativity process, Maarten made it clear how he sets his sounds apart, saying, "I think still, the creativity and the concepts you make come from inside."

Maarten's concepts for new dance music certainly include his dream collaborators, "Daft Punk and Pharrell Williams." Beyond these two, Maarten said,

I really love '70s and '80s pop music, but it can also be new stuff.

However, staying creative all the time for a quarter-century is no easy task. When asked how he does it, Maarten had some stellar advice for people in any career,

What I do is not listen to dance music while I'm home, like music from my fellow producers-slash-DJs. I try to listen to other inspirations. Keep it fresh for yourself. Don't drown in the whole scene your in.

And finally, Maarten gave another great tip that really can transcend more than just the music scene. When asked for some advice for up-and-comers in any field, Maarten said,

The important thing is -- it sounds cliché, but -- be unique. Don't try to copy something that is already there. It's really hard to stick out if so many people already did it.
I know people get inspiration from other artists, and try to replicate what they did, but try to take that knowledge and put a twist on it. Do something different with it. And don't be afraid of all the competition around you.